MIC Services

Innovators in technology

Metal Improvement
Company Controlled
shot peening
Subsidiary of Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Preventing failures

Enhancing the performance

of metals and materials
www.metalimprovement.co.uk
 Controlled shot peening - preventing failures
Metal Improvement Company (MIC) is a Component failure is often related to residual tensile stress
global organisation specialising in metal and design considerations - cost of performance criteria
material surface treatments which enhance induced during manufacture. Subsequent severe working
performance and extend the life of critical
components, enabling component designs to
and/or unexpected conditions can eventually lead to Parameter selection - the choice of process have to be accurately and Intensity control
shot peening parameters is dependant repeatedly controlled.
achieve their maximum potential. premature failure. on a variety of conditions: Shot peening intensity is the measure
Controlled shot peening is different of the energy of the shot stream. It is
Established in 1945, MIC has over 60 l knowledge of the application of the from most manufacturing processes in one of the essential means of ensuring
operating divisions in Europe, USA, Canada Typical examples of premature failure are: The shot peening process - how it component that there is no non-destructive method process repeatability. The energy of the
and Asia with on-site processing worldwide. works l component geometry to confirm that it has been performed shot stream is directly related to the
We offer a quality controlled and cost l Metal fatigue to the proper specification. Techniques compressive stress that is imparted into
l manufacturing method
effective service, working in partnership to Controlled shot peening is the such as x-ray diffraction require the a component. Intensity can be increased
l Corrosion fatigue l mechanical properties of the base
meet our customer’s needs. bombardment of a surface with small high part be sacrificed to generate a full by using larger media and/or increasing
l Stress corrosion cracking quality spherical media called shot in a material compressive depth profile analysis. the velocity of the shot stream.
MIC division approvals, where appropriate, technically defined and controlled way. l strain sensitivity of the base material
include: FAA, AS9100, NADCAP, ISO l Intergranular corrosion To ensure peening specifications are Other variables to consider are the
l environment
9001:2000, ISO 9001:2008 plus other l Fretting The shot can be steel, stainless steel, glass being met for production batches, the impingement angle and peening media.
specific OEM, company and industry or ceramic. l service conditions, loads and cycles following process controls must be Intensity is measured using Almen test
approvals as required. l Galling
l cost sensitivity maintained: media intensity, coverage, strips and must be conducted initially
Each piece of shot striking the metal acts as shot direction and repetition. Equipment during set up and repeated at approved
l Spalling All the above must be considered
a tiny peening hammer imparting a small should be mechanised to ensure the intervals.
l Wear when deciding on parameter selection
indentation or dimple into the surface. motion of component to shot flow is
and, equally important, maintained
The services MIC offer induce residual The action of impinging the surface yields consistent - hence the term controlled Coverage control
throughout the life of the product in a
compressive stresses and so extend the material in tension, further movement shot peening.
repeatable and consistent manner. Complete coverage of a shot peened
component life in a wide range of is restrained by the core and a surface
residual compressive stress results. The Media control surface is crucial in performing high
applications.
magnitude of the compressive stress is quality shot peening. Coverage is the
Tension 0 Compression Controlling shot shape and size will measure of original surface area that has
Shot peening is the most cost effective directly related to the yield strength of the
and practical method of inducing surface base material and is approximately equal Stress from result in a residual compressively been obliterated by shot peening dimples.
applied load
residual compressive stresses which to 80% of that value in compression. Residual stress stressed layer on the surface of uniform Coverage should never be less than
from shot peening
enhance the performance and extend the Resultant stress magnitude and depth: 100% as fatigue and stress corrosion
life of critical components. cracks can develop in any non peened
Impact at high speed area that is not encased in residual
creates a dimple compressive stress. Some strain sensitive
Shot peening influence on applied stress - materials perform better with levels of
Dimple algebraic reductions coverage in excess of 100%.
Depth of compressive layer - this
is the depth of the compressive layer
resisting crack initiation and propagation.
The layer depth can be increased
by increasing the peening impact
Metal Improvement Company energy, but section thickness has to be Poor shot shape and size will result in
is a subsidiary of the Curtiss-Wright considered. A deeper layer is generally an irregular residual stress profile,
Corporation, a diversified international
stretched surface desired for crack growth resistance and excessive surface disruption and
provider of highly engineered severe environmental condition. potential stress raisers:
products and services to the Surface stress - this magnitude is
Motion Control, Flow Control and usually less than the maximum
Materials Treatment industries. COMPRESSION compressive stress, which is subsurface
www.curtisswright.com but can be tailored to suit the application.

Controlling the process

Shot peening process
To ensure reliability and repeatability the
variable parameters of the shot peening

INNOVATORS IN TECHNOLOGY
MIC Markets include: MIC services include:

l Aerospace l Controlled shot peening

induces engineered residual compressive stresses
l Architectural
l Shot peen forming
l Automotive creates curvature and corrects distortion
l Chemical & food processing l Laser peening
induces deeper residual compressive stresses
l General & structural engineering
l Engineered coatings
l Marine improves performance, prevents corrosion and aids
lubricity
l Medical
l C.A.S.E. (isotropic finishing)
l Military
removes surface asperities reducing friction
l Off-road & earth moving equipment l On-site processing
provides services on customers’ own premises
l Oil, gas & petrochemical
l Peentex (architectural finishing)
l Power generation creates decorative and aesthetic texturing
l Railways l Surface texturing
applies a textured engineered finish
l Peenflex mouldings
protects against processing and
handling damage

EUROPEAN CORPORATE OFFICE USA COMPANY HQ PARENT COMPANY HQ

Metal Improvement Company Metal Improvement Company Curtiss-Wright Corporation

Hambridge Lane, Newbury 80 Route 4 East, Suite 310 10 Waterview Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Berkshire RG14 5TU, UK Paramus, New Jersey 07652, USA Parsippany, New Jersey 07054, USA
Tel: +44 (0)1635 279621 Tel: +1 (201) 843 7800 Tel: +1 (973) 541 3700
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.curtisswright.com
Web: www.metalimprovement.co.uk Web: www.metalimprovement.com
design/production: www.publicityproject.co.uk

Metal Improvement
Company
Subsidiary of Curtiss-Wright Corporation